A
Vincent Van Gogh, for whom colour was the main symbol of expression, was born in GrootZundert, Holland in 1853. He was brought up in a cultured family. Vincent was highly emotional and wasn't selfconfident. Between 1860 and 1880, when he finally decided to become an artist, Van Gogh had two unhappy love stories and worked unsuccessfully in Belgium. He remained there to study art, and decided to give happiness by creating beauty. Of the works of his early Dutch period, the most famous is The Potato Eaters.
In 1886 he went to Paris to join his brother Theo, the manager of Goupil's gallery. In Paris, Van Gogh studied with Cormon, later met Pissarro, Monet，and Gauguin, and began to lighten his very dark palette (调色板). His nervousness made him a difficult person to get along with and nightlong discussions and painting all day undermined his health. He decided to go south to Arles where he hoped his friends would join him and help to set up a school of art. Gauguin did join him but with bad results. Near the end of 1888, Van Gogh ran after Gauguin with an open razor (剃须刀) but ended up cutting a part of his own ear off. It led Gauguin to finally leave Arles.
In the May of 1890, Van Gogh seemed much better and went to live in AuverssurOise under the eye of Dr. Gachet. Two months later he was dead, having shot himself “for the good of all”. During his life he had sold one painting. Van Gogh's finest works were produced in less than three years.
语篇解读：文章介绍了艺术家凡·高的生平事迹。
1. Before Vincent Van Gogh started to learn art________.
A．he did a good job
B．he was popular with the other artists
C．he lived a frustrating life
D．he had no interest in art
解析：选C 推理判断题。根据第一段第四句可知，凡·高在学习艺术之前，爱情和工作上都不顺利，因此他的生活不顺心。
2．The underlined word “undermined” in the second paragraph could be replaced by “________”．
A．affected B．protected
C．tested D．changed
解析：选A 词义猜测题。该词所在句子的句意为：神经质使他成为一个很难相处的人，并且整夜的讨论再加上白天画画损害了他的健康。affect意为“影响，对……有坏影响”。
3．Which of the following about Van Gogh is TRUE?
A. He was a confident boy when he was young.
B．He was born in Belgium and once worked in Holland.
C．He lost a part of his ear at the age of 35.
D．He had never sold any paintings during his life.
解析：选C 细节理解题。由第一段第三句可知A项错误；由第一段第一句可知B项错误；由第一段第一句以及第二段倒数第二句可知，凡·高出生于1853年，1888年自己砍掉部分耳朵，故C项正确；由第三段第三句可知D项错误。
